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YE ARE UNLEAVENED (I)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
1 Corinthians 5:1-8

1 Corinthians 5:6

 

“Know ye not that a little leaven

leaveneth the whole lump?”

 

YE ARE UNLEAVENED (I)
 
Leaven or yeast is a substance that is added to dough to make it rise. In biblical times, leaven was usually a piece of fermented dough retained from a previous baking that was placed in the new dough to cause it to rise.
 
Leaven in the Bible refers to an influence whether good or bad that permeates or spreads. Telling about the good influence of the Gospel, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal (flour) till it was all leavened (Matt 13:33).
 
The leaven we learn today carries a bad sense and influence. In this Bible text, we are commanded to purge out the old leaven and the leaven of malice and wickedness. Jesus also warns us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees and of Herod. What does this leaven mean to us? Are we unleavened?
 
Perhaps most of the believers in Corinth knew leaven but did not notice its pervasive impact, so Paul had to remind them: “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” Sadly, they not only failed to notice the bad influence of immorality and sin among themselves but were even boasting about it. Paul had to admonish them, “Your glorying (boasting) is not good” (v 6). Actually, all boastings are bad and evil (James 4:13-16), except boasting in the Lord (1 Cor 1:27-31).
 
Leaven has a very powerful and pervasive influence or impact. It works secretly, quietly and slowly but it spreads by contact until the whole lump is affected and rises. Do you notice how bad and pervasive the influence of leaven is in the spiritual sense?
 
THOUGHT: Leaven has a quiet but very powerful and pervasive influence.

PRAYER: Father, keep me from all kinds of bad leaven.

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